Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 May 2016 7 February 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The childminder and her assistant promote children's speaking and listening skills very effectively. They create plenty of rich opportunities for children to talk and listen. They provide them with a range of new words that they can use for themselves to describe what they see and hear.  The childminder provides an excellent and very exciting outdoor environment. The children explore the area freely and enthusiastically participate in learning about the natural world, growing foods and the effects of the weather.  The childminder makes the most of children's interests when planning experiences. She consistently seeks out learning opportunities that stimulate children's curiosity and their strong impulse to explore and investigate.  The childminder and her assistant provide an excellent range of interesting and exciting resources that stimulates children's curiosity. Many of the most-innovative resources are

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This provision is outstanding

home made, designed specifically to meet children's individual learning needs.  The childminder establishes highly effective relationships with parents. This contributes significantly to the ease and frequency of information sharing. In letters and questionnaires parents express their very high regard for the childminder and her assistant.  The childminder is working exceptionally well with her assistant. She consistently provides excellent teaching examples that support the assistant to learn how highly effective teaching helps children make rapid progress towards the early learning goals.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 build on the use of data analysis to help target teaching even more precisely and to help identify further developments in practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector, childminder and the assistant discussed and reflected on children's learning through play.  The inspector spoke to the childminder, her assistant and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation including policies and evidence of the suitability of the assistant and family members over 16 years living in the household. She also viewed observation and assessment records of children's progress, the safeguarding procedures and the childminder's self-evaluation.  The inspector looked at letters from parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The childminder and her assistant have an excellent understanding of how children learn and develop. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. They both have a thorough knowledge of safeguarding procedures and know the action to take to protect children. The childminder attends regular training to keep up to date and enhance her skills. She is exploring the opportunities for her assistant to do the same. The childminder has an early years qualification and uses this extremely well to underpin her work with children and to coach her assistant. She sets very high standards, successfully communicating her expectations to others. The childminder and her assistant successfully evaluate the provision for children. They acknowledge the possibility of extending the use of the data they collect, to enhance the precision of teaching to an even higher level.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The childminder and her assistant plan and deliver a broad range of experiences that captures children's interests immediately. Children get thoroughly engrossed in their imaginative play as they use the toy animals, pretending they have a farm. Children delight in showing their detailed knowledge of the animals and the sounds they make. Children love listening to stories. The childminder and her assistant both read with the children. They make the most of the opportunities to encourage the children to show what they know about the stories. They encourage their full participation in telling the story. The childminder and the assistant support children's learning superbly. They help children to extend their thinking and to explore their ideas. When playing outside children eagerly discover how the water flows through the different connected containers.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children behave extremely well. The childminder and her assistant are consistent in reinforcing the clear messages about how to behave appropriately. They are calm and reassuring as they explain things to children. The childminder gathers plenty of relevant information about children's health and care needs. She uses this very effectively to plan routines that help children settle in and feel secure. She carefully monitors children's diet and is exceptionally vigilant to ensure no cross-contamination that could have a severe adverse impact on children's health. The childminder works very closely with parents to ensure children's ongoing good health. Children spend quality time outside in the fresh air engaging in active play.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are making rapid progress in their learning and development. The childminder and her assistant are supporting children exceptionally well to develop their independence and ability to share. Children are acquiring skills and applying their knowledge at a phenomenal rate. They are highly inquisitive, seeking out opportunities to learn more and share what they know with others. Children are effectively prepared for the move to school. The childminder monitors children's progress very closely. She uses her precise observations to assess children's level of attainment and to plan for their next steps in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 149628 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 854249 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 6

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 7 February 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1999 and lives in Hitchin. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder holds an appropriate qualification at level 3 and frequently works with an assistant. She supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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Telephone number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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